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Cultural influences on physical activity and diet

In Blackburn with Darwen approximately 30% of the population are of South Asian (predominantly Indian and Pakistani) origin. Research shows black and Asian children are three times more likely to have an “obesogenic lifestyle” (lower physical activity, higher screen time, unhealthy diet) than white children3. In a study conducted at Liverpool John Moores University, we explored the cultural factors that influence children’s weight-related behaviours4,5,6. Below are some of the key findings, followed by some recommendations for practice:

Findings:

Parents from some ethnic backgrounds (e.g. Somali, Bangladeshi, Yemeni) viewed a larger body size as desirable, and were less concerned by the potential consequences of childhood obesity. This is possibly due to the association of overweight with good health and wealth in certain cultures, and can lead some parents to want to “feed up” their children.

Parents from certain ethnic backgrounds (e.g. Bangladeshi, Yemeni) placed a higher value on academic and cultural education than physical activity, which means time spent at faith schools, language classes and doing homework can leave little time for physical activity.

Whilst Muslim girls are encouraged to be physically active, parents felt the dominant sports in the Western culture (e.g. football) did not fit with Islamic values for girls and women. The importance of female-only physical activity facilities was highlighted.

Some parents viewed cultural food practices as a barrier to healthy eating (e.g. eating from sharing platters, eating a lot of starchy and high-fat foods, eating a “late supper”, cooking with ghee).

Recommendations:

Help parents understand the health consequences of unhealthy weight.

Help parents understand how health is viewed from a religious point of view, Islam urges its adherents to take care of their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Recognise different cultural ideals and focus on health behaviours (i.e. physical activity and diet) rather than weight.

In cases where education takes priority over physical activity, help parents understand how being active can help a child’s concentration and cognitive development.

Find out about local services that offer female-only physical activity sessions (that allow flexible dress codes), and work with Muslim families to help them identify culturally-valued activities for their young girls.

Help families identify their cultural barriers to healthy eating and work with them to come up with suitable solutions (e.g. by identifying healthy substitutes for cooking ingredients).

Help parents to identify their religious values in the context of looking after their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Be aware of religious festivals (e.g. Ramadan) and the impact this may have on families’ dietary and physical activity behaviours.

It is also important to consider that black and Asian children living in the UK are more likely to experience child poverty7. As we know from the module on unhealthy weight at pre-school age, children from low socio-economic backgrounds are at a greater risk of being both over and underweight. The higher prevalence of unhealthy weight in certain ethnic groups may therefore be linked to the socio-economic situation they are living in rather than their ethnicity per se3.

Quiz

Below is a short quiz containing questions on what you have learnt throughout this module. If it takes a number of goes to get all of the questions correct, please note down each score in your logbook in the space provided. The main purpose of this quiz is to embed learning, and provide you with the opportunity to evaluate your learning. Please remember that we are focusing on the effectiveness of this website and not auditing your practice.

Once you have all the questions correct you will be provided with a certificate of module completion

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Culture

Start the quiz

1. According to national child measurement programme data in 2015/16, which ethic group have the highest level of overweight at reception age?

a) Black and black British children

b) Chinese Children

c) Asian British Children

d) White children

2. In Blackburn with Darwen, what percentage of the population identify as Muslim?

a) 52.6%

b) 27%

c) 30.4%

d) 40%

3. What can you do to support families from different cultures?

a) Learn about the main cultures in your area

b) Avoid stereotypical assumptions about cultures

c) Show an interest and don’t be afraid to ask

d) All of the above

4. How is culture defined?

a) The biological term that distinguishes humans by physical traits

b) The connection of a set of individuals who share a unique social, cultural and linguistic heritage

c) The values, beliefs, norms, patterns and practices of a particular group that are learned and shared by individuals and passed from generation to generation

d) None of the above

5. If a white and a South-Asian individual have the same BMI and have similar diets and physical activity levels, which individual is likely to have the highest percentage of fat?

a) The South-Asian individual

b) The white individual

c) Both the same, because they both have the same BMI

d) Not possible to tell

6. Which of these physical activity opportunities would be most appropriate for muslim females?